The distribution and accumulation of mercury and methylmercury in surface sediments beneath the East China Sea

Abstract

China is a massive mercury emitter, responsible for a quarter of the world’s mercury emissions, which transit the atmosphere and accumulate throughout its watercourses. The Changjiang (Yangtze) River is the third largest river in the world, integrating mercury emissions over its 1.8 × 106 km2 catchment and channelling them to the East China Sea where they can be buried. Despite its potential global significance, the importance of the East China Sea as a terminal mercury sink remains poorly known. To address this knowledge gap, total mercury and methylmercury concentrations were determined from 51 surface sediment samples revealing their spatial distribution, whilst demonstrating the overall pollution status of the East China Sea. Sedimentary mercury distributions beneath the East China Sea are spatially heterogeneous, with high mercury concentrations (> 25 ng g−1) corresponding to areas of fine-grained sediment accumulation. In contrast, some sites of fine-grained sediment deposition have significantly lower values of methylmercury (< 15 ng g−1), such as the Changjiang estuary and some isolated offshore areas. Fine-grained particles and organic matter availability appear to exert the dominant control over sedimentary mercury distribution in the East China Sea, whereas in situ methylation serves as an additional control governing methylmercury accumulation. Estimated annual sedimentary fluxes of mercury in the East China Sea are 51 × 106 g, which accounts for 9% of China’s annual mercury emissions.

Notes

Acknowledgements

This represents Seolfor Solutions contribution no. 1. We thank Dongxing Yuan and FangFang Lin for determining the various mercury abundances and Chao Li for analysing TOC and TN contents. We salute that initial work by Xingqian Cui and comments from Mark Marvin-DiPasquale. This manuscript was critiqued by two anonymous reviewers whose diligence undoubtedly improved the quality of this contribution.

Funding information

Aiguo Dong received financial support from the Fundamental Research funds for the Central Universities (2652017048). Shikui Zhai received financial support from the Chinese National Natural Science Foundation (41076022) and the Laboratory of Marine Hydrocarbon Resources and Environmental Geology, Ministry of Land and Resource (MRE201004). Gareth Izon is supported by the Simons Collaboration on the Origins of Life.

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